59 I don’t even need to bait a bait to catch you

◎Kissing during the second year of graduate school is essential◎

Upon hearing this, Hanano Chihoko glanced at Hagiwara Kenji, then quickly looked away. "It's all fine. We're all... good friends, right?"

Hagiwara Kenji fixed his gaze on Hanano Chiheko and suddenly said, "Then... would you consider being my girlfriend, Chiheko?"

Hanano Chihoko gasped and froze in her tracks, "What?!!"

I don’t know if it was because Hanano Chiheko was too shocked, but at dusk in the evening, she actually startled a few fat sparrows.

Hagiwara Kenji smiled slowly, "I'm so disappointed. It seems that Kowako really doesn't have any feelings for me at all~"

Hanano Chihoko regained consciousness, her short-circuited brain clearing up again. Blushing, she turned her head away and said, "Kenji-kun is teasing me again."

"Really?" Hagiwara Kenji's eyes were intriguing. "Actually, in Kowako's eyes, the line between best friends and boyfriend might not be that clear."

Chihoko Hanano was suddenly hit in the sore spot by Kenji Hagiwara. She lowered her eyebrows, nodded, and then shook her head.

"Sorry, I seem to have talked a bit too much today, Xiaohezi, please don't mind."

Kenji Hagiwara apologized politely.

"No." Hanano Chiheko pursed her lips and thought for a moment, "I just want everyone to be happy. Isn't this... a bad idea?"

Hagiwara Kenji wasn't expecting Hanano Chihoko to be so blunt. He paused for a moment, then said, "There are countless paths in this world, and I can't guarantee that this path won't be taken. As a police officer, as long as you're acting legally and in compliance, I have no right to interfere. As a friend, I happily accept your kindness and want to repay you double."

Hanano Chiheko nodded, seeming to understand, "Thank you, Kenji-kun, for telling me so much."

"Why are you so polite?" Hagiwara Kenji said with a smile, "Kowako's train of thought is very interesting. I think... even if I were to be with Kowako every day in the future, I probably wouldn't be bored."

"Hahaha!" Hanano Chiheko scratched her head shyly, "How can I be that good..."

As soon as she finished speaking, a light bulb suddenly lit up in Hanano Chiheko's head, and the look she gave Hagiwara Kenji suddenly changed from friendly to eager.

Hagiwara Kenji was very perceptive. He immediately noticed that Hanano Chihoko was in a bad mood. After a moment's hesitation, he called out, "Kowako?"

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Chihoko Hanano suddenly turned sideways and gave Kenji Hagiwara a "tree bang" in a very cool manner.

Hanano Chihoko supported herself on the tree with one hand and touched her waist with the other. Her ears were lightly powdered. "Kenji-kun, actually... I..."

Speaking from experience, Kenji Hagiwara has experienced this kind of pink bubble confession scene many times.

But when the girl who confessed was changed to Chihoko Hanano, Kenji Hagiwara was really surprised.

This surprise made Kenji Hagiwara intentionally or unintentionally downplay the memory of Chihoko Hanano rejecting him just a few minutes ago.

"Take your time to speak." Hagiwara Kenji's lips curved slightly, his beautiful eyes blooming like peach blossoms.

Hanano Chihoko accidentally met Hagiwara Kenji's eyes. She stared at him blankly for a moment before she suddenly realized what she was about to do. She immediately covered her face with a book, "Um... I want you to help me look at this!!"

The good atmosphere disappeared instantly. Hagiwara Kenji's smile faded and he glanced at the cover. "What is this?"

"A master gave it to me because he saw that I have a unique bone structure."

When Hanano Chihoko talked about this, she immediately opened up and talked to Hagiwara Kenji about what she saw and heard that day and what happened afterwards.

"You mean, you asked Xiao Zhenping to help you look at it?"

Hagiwara Kenji couldn't help but laugh and said, "I really want to know what he told you. Xiaohezi, can you tell me in secret?"

"Well." Speaking of this, Hanano Chiheko was a little listless. "That guy stood me up, but luckily there's Kenji-kun."

Hanano Chiheko regained some spirit and looked at Hagiwara Kenji with hope, "I think you must understand these things, so I want you to help me with some advice."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Kenji Hagiwara took the "Thirty-Six Strategies of Friendship" solemnly handed over to him by Chihoko Hanano, flipped through it roughly, and when he saw the art of checks and balances, the scene of Chihoko Hanano busy all day on Christmas Day emerged in his mind.

There is also the emotion of giving and giving wholeheartedly to every friend, and happily accepting friends' feedback.

This inexplicably coincides with the idea of ​​"showing kindness and giving back" that I just mentioned...

Hagihara Kenji thought to himself.

But...is this definitely friendship?

Kenji Hagiwara was doubtful for a moment, then he turned the page and the word "kiss" suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Kenji Hagiwara took a deep breath and looked carefully. This chapter was already the end of the book, which described the uncontrollable emotions that come with deepening friendship.

Seeing that Hagiwara Kenji was just watching without saying anything, Hanano Chihoko couldn't help but ask out of curiosity: "How does it feel?"

"Very...gradually."

Kenji Hagiwara finally managed to utter these words.

Hanano Chiheko exhaled, "I said they didn't lie to me."

"I have to say, you practiced very well."

Hagihara Kenji said sincerely.

"Hey, really?" Hanano Chiheko grinned at being praised by Hagiwara Kenji and said modestly, "It can be considered as the early bird catches the worm. After all, this is my first time flying into a friend's nest."

"Haven't you ever met friends like us before?"

Hagihara Kenji couldn't help but ask.

Hanano Chiheko seemed to recall something bad. After a pause, she smiled heartlessly and said, "It's okay."

Seeing that Chihoko Hanano didn't want to say more, Kenji Hagiwara stopped asking and returned his gaze to the book.

For some reason, when Kenji Hagiwara looked at the words in the book and thought of Chihoko Hanano's usual enthusiasm, a deep bitterness inexplicably welled up in his eyes.

"If Xiaohezi doesn't mind, I can help you practice."

"Oh, really!"

Chihoko Hanano's joy was beyond words, and she didn't realize that the topic had deviated from its original theme.

"For example...this."

Following what was written in the book, Hagiwara Kenji stroked Hanano Chihoko's cheek with his fingers, slowly lowered his head and moved closer, looking at Hanano Chihoko with eyes full of affection, "Is it going to be like this?"

Hanano Chihoko noticed that Hagiwara Kenji was leaning towards her, and her expression froze for a moment. "No, that's not what I meant..."

Kenji Hagiwara seemed not to hear anything, and his gaze slowly moved from Hanano Chihoko's forehead and nose to her lips, allowing his vision to become blurred as he got closer.

In a flash, something flashed through Hanano Chiheko's mind.

"Kenji!"

At the last moment, Hanano Chihoko suddenly pushed Hagiwara Kenji away, took a few steps back until her back touched the trunk of the cherry tree, and then she suddenly stopped.

Chihoko Hanano's mind is now completely confused.

Aside from a hint of pity, Hagiwara Kenji's eyes were filled with a clear understanding. "It seems the 'friendship' described in this book doesn't apply to you."

Hanano Chihoko's face was still red, and after a long pause, she looked up at Hagiwara Kenji, "So Kenji-kun was just... testing me?"

"It's just a practice." Hagiwara Kenji closed the book and handed it to Hanano Chihoko with a smile as usual, "I said before that I would help my little Kazuko."

"So that's how it is." Hanano Chiheko breathed a sigh of relief. She took the book with one hand and touched her hot face with the other. She said with lingering fear, "That really gave me a scare just now."

"I'm sorry," Hagiwara said. "I just think that instead of verbally discussing the pros and cons of this book with you, it's better to try it yourself and help you choose the one that's right for you."

"I know Kenji-kun means well, but this book...is truly not for me."

Chihoko Hanano is now as frustrated as when she was doing the "Five Years of College Entrance Examination and Three Years of Simulation" questions for three years in high school, and later found out that not only was the book pirated, but even the answers were wrong!

Hagiwara Kenji understood what she meant by that. "Then... have you solved the problem that has been bothering Kowako for these days?"

Hanano Chihezi's mind unconsciously flashed the scene that just flashed through her mind. She bit her lip and said, "Hmm!"

Hanano Chiheko's eyes were firm for a moment, then she suddenly turned and ran away, "Kenji-kun, I have something to do, so I'll leave first. And thank you!!"

Under the cherry tree, Hanano Chiheko disappeared in an instant like a gust of wind, leaving only Hagiwara Kenji standing there.

"Is this... what you expected?"

After a long time, a hint of bitterness appeared on Hagiwara Kenji's face, and he couldn't tell for a moment whether this sentence was directed at Hanano Chihoko or at himself.

No one knows the answer except God.

It’s like if Chihoko Hanano hadn’t called for a stop at that time, even Kenji Hagihara himself wouldn’t know whether he would continue or stop.

Hanano Chiheko rushed to the door of the boys' dormitory and caught a wild boy, "Hello, please..."

Chihoko Hanano accidentally caught a glimpse of a blonde who had just entered the gate not far away, and immediately chased after her without any delay.

The wild boy was left standing there in a daze, and it took him a long time to react:

The dormitory that Hanano Chiheko just entered is the boys' dormitory, right?

Chihoko Hanano didn't know why he rushed up so anxiously. By the time she reacted, the man had already entered the boys' dormitory.

Never mind for now. Since she is here now, Kurosawa Kazuko must catch this guy Furuya Rei today no matter what!

Chihoko Hanano said to herself that she was excited, ran over quickly, and caught the person who turned into the corridor.

"Hey, where are you running to!"

Unexpectedly, as soon as Hanano Chiheko shouted, she came face to face with the blond Shibata Shoichi who also had a shocked look on his face.

"Hiss, why are you here?!" Hanano Chiheko felt that the small flame that was still burning in her heart was instantly extinguished by a basin of cold water.

"No, big sister, can you please keep your voice down?"

Shibata Masakazu lowered himself and clasped his hands together, begging for the truth.

"You feel so guilty..." Hanano Chiheko looked at Shibata Shoichi defensively, "What have you done to feel guilty?"

"Oh my God, you've broken into the boys' dormitory. Big brother, don't laugh at the second brother. Can't we be a little gentle with each other?!" If possible, Shibata Masakazu just wanted to disappear on the spot.

"I'm not yet..."

Hanano Chihoko felt a little guilty after hearing what Shibata Shoichi said. She rubbed her nose and said, "Who told you to cosplay Furuya Rei with nothing better to do? That's why you lured me in here..."

Shibata Masakazu sneered, "I don't think I need to fish. As long as it's related to Furuya Rei, you'll take the bait obediently. I don't even need to dig a nest."

【Author’s words】

Furuya Rei: Those who are willing will take the bait...

Hanano Chiheko: "Awoo~" (biting the hook excitedly)